Button-sewing machine.



No. 822,551. PATENTED JUNE 5, 1906.

' 0. A. POWELL.

BUTTON SEWING MACHINE.

APPLIGATION FILED MAY 18,1904.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

E Cfifuy ces .H.POWELZJ.

Qw/ v I in 9 T TOENEYeSZ CHARLES A. POWELL, OF /VHITESBORO, NEW YORK.

BUTTON-SEWING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 5, 1906.

Application filed May 18, 1904. Serial No. 208,512.

To (1 whom it 11111.1 concern:

Be it known thatI, CHARLES A. POWELL, a

. citizen of the United States, residing at Vvhitesboro, in the county of Oneida and ing drawings, in which like letters refer to like parts throughout.

My invention has reference particularly to an attachment applicable to machines built for sewing on buttons; and it consists in a device whereby the sides of the buttonholeopening may be spread apart so that the button can be sewed in place by stitches passing through the buttonhole, the consequence of which is that after the work has been done the garment is thereby buttoned and the but tons exactly register with the buttonholes.

This device is applicable more especially to 7 machines used in the manufacture of underwear, although it can be applied in any case where buttons are to be sewed on, and the garments include the edge to be secured by the buttons.

As is well known, there is a variety of machines which are used in sewing on buttons. In some of the machines the heedle-bar is mounted to vibrate from one button-opening to another, or the machine may be constructed so that the button is automatically or manually changed from one position to another to receive the thread from the needle. Various devices have been constructed and placed on the market for feeding buttons and placing them under the stitching mechanism, and many attachments applicable to such 'machines have been made and adapted.

Many such machines have automatic means for stopping them after a certain number of stitches have been iilade, the machine being started again in some instances by the operation of a foot-treadle. In all such cases, howi ever, it has been necessary after the buttons have been sewed on the fabric that an operator should button the two edges of the fabric together, and-it has been foundthat the buttons frequently do not exactly register with the buttonholes. For these reasons the work has not had the best appearance in finish, and extra labor has been required in preparing the article for the market. I now pro pose to do away with this imperfection and insure the placing of the buttons in exactly the proper position and to do it so that the operation of sewing on the buttons itself buttons the garment. This is done by my device, which can be applied to any of the button-sewing machines and which is operated automatically to spread the sides of the buttonhole in time for the needle to pass therethrough and as it sews on the button. In this particular illustration it will be seen that immediately on the starting of the machine my device operates in this way and that on stopping the machine it closes, so as to be in position for the next button-sewing.

I illustrate in this instance what is known as a U nion button-sewing machine, which is of a well-known type and has means for automatically stopping the machine and treadle connections for starting the same. Other treadle connections are made with the presser-foot, so as to move the button to bring a different pair of button-openings under the needle, which in this instance vibrates from side to side.

.My device is in this instance mounted on a familiar construction attached to thepresserbar and operated therewith and which receives the buttons manually placed therein and positions them under the needle.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a sewing-machine having the presserfoot device with my improvement mounted therewith. Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view of such a machine, showing familiar parts. Fig. 2 is a cross-view on Fig. 2 looking towardthe worm and gear; and Fig. 2 is a like view from the opposite side, the said views showing the means by which the revolution of the gear is operative to stop the machine and to shift the button-support. view on the line 00- :c of Fig. 1, parts broken away, and showing a different construction from that exhibited in that figure. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a familiar button-supporting device with my improvement mounted thereon. Fig. 5 is a bottom view of the samewith certain parts removed. Fig. 6 is a side view of the parts shown in Fig. 5 with the addition of bracket T thereon. Fig. 7 is a bottom view with further additions, showing how the parts are assembled.. Fig. 8 is a Fig. 3 is a section' bottom perspective view of the device with the jaws closed, and Fig. 9 is a plan view of one of the jaws, while Fig. indicates the means employed in this instance of connecting my device with the operating parts of the machine. 1

Referring to the drawings more in detail, A

illustrates thebed or base of the machine; B,

the standard; C, the overhang or neck, in the end of which is mounted the ordinary presserbar D, the connected parts of which will be more specifically described hereinafter.

E is the needle-bar carrying the needle 6 and in this instance mounted to oscillate by cori'nection' with the power of the machine through the oscillating arm E.

F- is the main shaft, which carries the powerpulley F at one end and at the other operates the ears F, which in turn operate certainof t e stitching parts. The shaft also has cranks F, which by their connections operate the shaft (not shown) which transmits the power to the upper parts of the machine. The power pulley F is loosely mounted on the shaft F and is thrown in and out of enga ement by means of a twisted dog whic engages in the grooved wheel f, which is connected to the power-pulley.- The.

twisted dog f is mounted on the shaft G, which is mounted in the base or frame to make a partial turn under'the force of spring y when the machine is to be stopped. When the machine is running, the power-pulley F is moved toward theleft, Fig. 2, when a stud 5 f thereon en ages withthe dog G, fixedly -ments the several The shaft F carries a worm H, which engages this block when the same is moved into the gear H, mounted on the base of the machine. The gear has on it a dog h, which engages with an upset it on bar I to automatically stop the machine. The bar I is pivotally mounted about midway on the base of the machine and at its outer end has a cutaway 'i,which engages blockL ,which is secured on the rod J. Bar Iis mounted with a spring *5, so that its cut-away automatically engages proper position. This is accomplished by a treadle which is not shown in the drawings,

but which has connection with a bell-crank lever, one arm of which lies against the end 9' of the rod J. When the treadle is ressed down, it pushesthe rod J, which is s ldingly mounted in the frame, toward the operator. This throws block I into the cut-out'm bar 1. n a movement is in this way given tothe the end 0 is done by means of the.

] shaft G through a crank connection of block I with the shaft G. When the machine has taken a certain number of stitches, as determined by the number of teeth in the gear H, the dog it engages the offset on bar I and releases the cut-away of the other end from block I, which permits spring g to operate and turn the shaft G, so as to throw the powerpulley F out of engagement and throw the dog G into position to engage dog G in. notch g, the do G being mounted to yield laterally enoug to let G slip into such position, and thus stopthe machine. In the machine which I il: ustrate there is a further device for automatically shifting the presser-foot so as to present other holes of the button under the oscillating needle. To accomplish this, there is provided shaft K, which carries spring 7c and has an arm K secured thereon, from the other end of which connection is made with the second treadlc. When the treadle is pressed down, it correspondingly turns the shaft K a ainst the pressure of spring k. At'

f the shaft is a crank-arm or dog L, which carries a stud Z, which engages with a cut-out Z in plate L, which latter is mount ed with a spring to throw its op osite end from the base and over which en rests the end of bar L, which is pivotally mounted near its center and has an offset Z. When 9 the treadle which is connected with the bar K is pulled downward, it moves the presserfoot, which carries the button to the rear. In that position bar L is engaged by the stud on dog L, and the offset Z on bar L is in the path of dog h, by which it is engaged in the revolution of gear H. When the gear has made the half-turn, the dog it engages the offset Z,

which by its mounting and connection throws the bar L out of engagement with stud on 'dog L and permits shaft K to take a partial turn under the influence of its spring 7c. The shaft K has an arm K" thereon, which engages, through base A, with plate M of the presser-foot construction, and the turning of the bar K thrusts the .presser-foot mounting and the resser-foot itself forward. a short distance, so as to expose the second pair of button-openings to the needle. This presserfoot mounting or slide is indicated in Fig. 1, although it is not shown in particular detail, since-it is familiar; It consists of a bar or plate M, mounted to move freel forward and backward with the other arts herewith next to be described. At its orward end it ordinarily has a plate m, which projects under the needle and with other parts supports the button in place'to be sewed. The outer end of the plate M has abracket pivotally mot ed, M, on which is adjustably secured plate,

.N, which extends from such mounting for wardly and is provided with link connections mits plate N and its su ported parts to move up. and down at its orward end with the .N to the foot of the resser-bar. This per+ presser-bar and to move to and fro with the plate M as the latter is actuated by the shaft Y mechanism before described. As therein shown, the .action of the treadle lifts the presser-bar and its depending structure, in-

cluding the presser-foot, whenever that is de' sired, and the automatic operation of the machine shifts the horizontal position so as to bring the button-openings under the needle.

Underneath plate N is mounted a frog 0, which has a forwardly-projecting member 0. The whole is mounted to travel in groove 0 in plate N and is moved therein by means of the screw 0 and in which groove it is held by the bolt p with spring 29. Between frog 0 and the plate N are bars R, pi'votally mounted at 1". On each bar R is a screw r, which passes through the grooves or cut-outs P in the frog 0, so that as the frog is moved forward by the turning of the screw o the outer ends of arms R are brought closer together and with the outer end of the arm 0 approach a common center and provide parts of a mounting adjustable according to the size of the button, in which it is to be held when being sewed. Cooperating with these parts in some familiar machines is a thin plate m, the outer end of which is shown in Fig. 1 by dotted lines, which supports the button and is in turn carried by the plate M, but the function of which is supplied by my device and is therefore not particularly shown or described.

The parts so far described are known in the art and are set forth merely for the purpose of identifying the machine to which I have applied my improvement this particular instance and whichI show in the drawings; without intending, however, to confine myself to a machine of this identical structure.

S represents fingers which are pivotally supported under arms R by the screws 1". At their inner end they are provided with grooves s, particularly shown in Figs. 7 and, 9. Underneath late N is a bracket T, which may be fixedly mounted on the plate N, but is shown in Fig.4 as being adjustably mounted'thereon by screws. It may be constructed to receive the screw 0 and be moved to and fro therewith, thus moving with the other parts which are adjustable by that screw. On this bracket, pivotally mounted at t, is bar T, which is provided with studs t, which en age slots .9 s in fingers S S, so

that the turnlng of the bar T one way or the "necessary swing to the arm T.

In Fig. 3 I illustrate how my device can be constructed to operate from below. Instead. of continuing underneath arms R the fingers S are passed through the work plate or frame A and extend thereunder to the needle-open ing, where they receive an upward turn and are provided with similar ends or up-sets s. The arm T extends over the work-plate, as shown in Fig. 1. In the present instance I mount on the bar J a dog U, Fig. 10, which. extends through the work-plate in an opening provided therefor and has a lateral arm or projection U. Between this dog and the arm I", I put a link V, which is rigidly moun ted on the dog U and at the other end is slotted, as is also the adjacent end of arm T, so that adjustment may be made to give the As this arm is moved to and fro it opens or closes the lingers S, according to the prearranged adj ustment.

In operation we will suppose that the ma chine is at a stop, the presser-foot is down, and the power-pulley is out of engz'tgement, the lock-arm G having locked the dog i. The operator presses on one treadle and lifts the presser-fo'ot so as to receive the work underneath, with the buttonhole-ply above the other and the point where the button is to be attached immediately under the needle. A button is then inserted between the ends of bars R and arm 0, the former of which are slightly cut away, as indicated, to receive the edge of the button, the button resting on the ends of fingers S. The presser-foot is lowered so that theends of the fingers s are in the cut of the buttonhole. The opera tor presses on the other treadle, which turnsthe bell-crank lever and throws the bar J forward, which lifts the lock-arm G and throws the power-pulley into engagement so as to turn the shaft and operate the machine. The movement of bar J swings arm T and spreads the fingers and opens'the buttonhole so that the needle can pass through it in sewing on the button. We assume that the machine has started at the beginning of a cycle, so that when the gear H has taken half a turn the presser-footpair are thrjwn forward, so that an equaLnumber of stitches will be taken in the rear pair of button-openings as were taken in the front-pair. When the gear has completed its revolution this dog It engages the oifset-h on bar I, which operates the stop mechanism and locks the machine. When, the operator presses the treadle to throw forward the bar J and start the machine the dog U thereon, through its connections to the arm T, operates the fingers S so that they open the buttonhole, the needle passing freely therethrough, and when the machine comes to a sto the button has been secured to the proper old of the fabric (in this instance the under one) by stitches which pass through the buttonhole in the up Of course I do not lim1t myself in any way to the particular machine or to the particu lar arrangement, form, or construction, meaning to claim herein, broadly, a device in the present instance connected with the starting and stopping mechanisms and operative therewith for opening or spreading a buttonhole, whereby the button may be sewed on by stitches passing through the buttonhole and securing the perfect location of each button and doin the simultaneous operation of buttoning t e garment, the device being operated by, medium of the mechanism by which the parts are started and stopped which sew on the button.

It will be evident that various modifications and changes can be made in this device, and it can be applied to a great variety of machines; but I illustrate merely a particular form which I have made and used on a machine of the characterillustrated in the drawings. v 7

Having described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by. Letters Patent, is

1. In a button-sewing machihe provided with mechanism for sewing on buttons, and

mechanism for starting the sewing mechanism, fingers for opening a buttonhole and means connected with and operated by the mechanism for starting themachine whereby simultaneously to spread thefingers at the starting of the mechanism.

2. In a button-sewing machine, fingers for opening a buttonhole,the said fingers being mounted to provide for their opening to a greater or less degree, sewing mechanism, means for starting the same and means operative synchronously with the sewing mechanism simultaneously to spread the fingers at the starting of such mechanism.

3. In a button-sewing machine, the combination with mechanism for sewing on buttons, of fingers having mountings adapted to permit adjustment to different-size buttonholes for the opening of said buttonhole to an extent determined by saidadjustment, .mech

anism for starting the sewing mechanism and means operatively connected therewith to spread the fingers at the starting ofthe sewing mechanism. v

4. In a button-sewing machine, the combination with mechanism for sewing on buttons and means for starting and stopping the same, of fingers for the opening of the buttonhole, adjustable mountin s for said fingers, and means to open and osethesaid fingers synchronously with the starting and stopping of thesewing mechanism and to an extent determined by the adjustment of their mount-e ings.

. .5. In a button-sewing provided as jw nepn ut a the with mechanism for combination of fingers for opening a buttonhole, mechanism by which the operation of sewing on buttons is started and stopped and.

means connected with said mechanism whereby to open and shut said fingers.

6, In a button sewing machine, the combination with sewing mechanism and buttonsupporting means, of fingers mounted to be raised and lowered with the button-supporting means and operative, independent'of the position of said means, to open a buttonhole starting and stopping mechanism and means operative therefrom to open and shut the fingers.

7. In a button-sewing niacliine, thecombination with mechanism for sewing on buttons and means for starting nd stopping the same, of fingers for opening a operative means adapted to open and close the fingers when lowered upon the fabric simultaneously with the starting and stopping of the sewing mechanism.

8. In a button-sewing machine, the combination with button-stitching mechanism and a button-clamp, of fingers mounted to be simultaneous'ly operated by the starting mechanism of the machine to open a buttonhole and said starting mechanism.

9. In a button-sewing'machine, in combination with a button-stitching mechanism and a button-clamp, means for starting and stopping the stitching mechanism, fingers mounted to be simultaneously operated by the starting and stoppin mechanism and operative to spread each 0 ge of the buttonhole equally from the middle line thereof and to permit closing the buttonhole.

10. In a button-sewing machine, the combination with button-stitching mechanism, a button-clamp and a presser-bar, of fingers movable to spread each edge of the buttonhole equally to the side of the button-attaching point and means, independent of the presser-bar, to spread the fingers.

11. In a button-sewing machine comprising button-supporting means, work-supporting means and stitching mechanism, fingers mounted to engage the edges of the buttonhole, starting mechanism, means operatively connected with the starting mechanism to spread the buttonhole at the beginning of the operation of sewing the button.

'12. In a button-sewingmachinecomprisinga button-support, a work-support and a stitching mechanism, operative means to spread. the sides of the buttonhole whereby the button-stitches may pass therethrou'gh, the said means being connected with the mechanism which starts the operation of sewing, said starting mechanism.

13.- In a device of the character described,

,{comprising button stitching. mechanism,

means of starting and stopping the same, and a button-clamp, a buttonhole-expander op erating between the button and buttonhole,and-

the fabric to IIO ' which it is to be attached, and operative connections of the same with the starting and the stopping means to open the buttonhole at the starting of the stitching operation and to permit its closing at the end thereof.

14. In a device of the character described comprising a work-support, abutton-support,

the stopping thereof, the said fingers being mounted on supports adapted to adjust the fingers to bnttonholes of different size, said starting and stopping mechanism.

16. In a button-sewing machine comprising button-supporting means, work-supporting means and stitching mechanism, fingers mounted to engage the edges of the buttonhole and means for operating each finger to spread its edge of the buttonhole equally from the central line of said buttonhole.

17. In a device of the character described having means severally, to support a button and a fabric and for stitching the former to the latter, and means to start and to stop the stitching means, means connected with the latter means to spread the buttonhole by engaging each edge at opposite points in the middle thereof, whereby a button may be sewed on its fabric by stitches passing through the buttonhole.

18. In a button-sewing machine comprising a stitching mechanism aiid means for positioning a button relative thereto, fingers pivotally mounted engaging at one end the edges of the buttonhole and at the other end connected with the starting and stopping mechanism of the machine whereby the edges of the buttonhole may be opened and permitted to close coincident with the beginnin and the ending of the sewing operation, and said starting and stopping mechanism..

19. In a buttonsewing machine comprising apresser-foot and cooperating parts for 10- cating a button and sewing the same, fin ers, operative independent of the presserootoperating means, to open a buttonhole and each movable therefor when the presser-foot is upon the fabric, and means for operating said fingers.

20. In a button-sewing machine, a worl. support, stitching mechanism, a presser-i'oot comprising button-supporting means, means supported on the presser-foot for opening a buttonhole and operative at any position of the presser-foot, and means connected with the starting and stoppp ng mechanism for reciprocating the said opening means, said starting and stopping mechanism.

'21. In a button-sewing machine comprising parts for positioning the buttons and sewing the same, fingers pivotally mounted. and adapted at one end to engage the edges of a buttonhole, and supported on the mountings adjustable to adapt the device to buttonholes of different size, together with means for operatin said fingers.

22. In a button-sewing machine comprising a work-support, stitching mechanism and a button-supporting means adjustable to different-size buttons, the combination of fingers adjustably mounted adjacent to the buttom supporting'means, and means to open and close the fingers synchronously with the starting and stopping of the stitching mechanism.

28. In a button-sewing machine comprising a work-support, stitching mechanism and button-positioning means, fingers pivotally mounted to separate the edges of a buttonhole, means to start and stop the stitching mechanism, and lever connection between the said fingers and the said mechanism whereby the fingers are operated simultaneously with the said mechanism.

24. In a button-sewing machine, fingers for opening a buttonhole, means to raise and lower said fingers and separate means for spreading them in a raised or lowered position.

25. In abutton-sewing machine, buttonhole-opening fingers, means to raise and lower the same, means to swing each of the fingers when lowered upon the fabric to spread each edge of the buttonhole.

In testimony whereof I afliX my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

' CHAS. A. POl/VELL.

Witnesses:

H. G. BURK, E.- T. DE Groner. 

